Mamas and Papas pushchairs

[Bekki]

Does anyone have any reviews of the Mamas ans Papas freestyler or travel system, they look quite good and they look sturdy but would the suspension be good enough to survive a large baby, my first baby was huge! My old graco pushchair was struggling under his weight after 1 year. How useful is the carseat click system with the base?

marina, if you are otherwise happy with the from birth maclarens on offer, you can get lambskin buggy liners which are very thick, soft, insulating in the winter and cooling in the summer. we paid about £35 for ours.

I've ordered from Kiddicare and they were great -but it's expensive to send things back if you don't like them so try out at John Lewis first! I also second the lambskin recommendation. V comfy.

Just to add my 2p worth, we've got a Pliko pushchair with a car seat that attaches to it.
Cost 250 for the lot, I think.
DS is nearly 11 months old and the pushchair is really showing serious signs of wear. I know I can be heavy handed with things, but there is damage in unexpected places. It also no longer clicks shut - very annoying. I don't think it was worth the money at all.
The car seat was too heavy to lift easily after DS was about 10 weeks (and he's a small baby) so it's just stayed in the car.

If I did it again I would spend the money on a better pushchair from birth with the extras that we couldn't afford, like foot muff, and get a car seat that is designed to stay in the car. Especially if my baby was due in summer when the cold weather is not a concern.

The one good thing about the pushchair is that it is quite light.

Hi Marina
I just bought a Maclaren Quest which is suitable from birth according to the bumph that came with it. I had a pliko for ds and HATE it with a passion. As with Lennies mine won't fold up properly and had to be sent off for repairs after a few months because the wheels veered off strangely like a dodgy supermarket trolley.Car seat is heavy I agree, but I am going to use it for the next babe anyway. I used Kiddicare for a buggy board, £2.00 cheaper than JL! I am now unsure about my Maclaren Quest, is it really not padded enough? I hadn't really thought about it as I presumed I would be using a sling for the first few weeks anyway.. Rats!

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I think it was Elliott who posted a while back on "luxury" extras for a subsequent baby, and a lambskin was top of the list, so I really think we might go that route.
And not to disparage the Quest, Jessi - that particular model must have got past me so I need to check up on it. I really did love our Maclaren and would very much like another. I like the look of the Techno and later on the Volo, but had not seen the Quest.
Thanks for the Kiddicare recommendation, Aloha - I've bookmarked both sites now.

We got a MacLaren Techno XT (ie the 2003 model) and also a lambskin. Ds2 was born early May and we also had cosy-toes which we used until the heatwave started. So far it has been a good combination - lies almost flat and you can see baby through the hood. Takes a buggyboard and has useful pockets in the hood (taken over by ds1 for juice, snacks and toys, but could have been used for phone purse and keys...).

My only complaint is that if I stick shopping on the back it does have a tendancy to tip up - likewise if buggy board is attached. So we also bought some weights to keep it down. So once everything is added up it isn't the cheapest option. If you are buying online do check the year carefully - a lot of the bargains available are last year's Techno which does not recline as far...

I had a M&P freestyler and used it till ds was about 10 months. Not because he grew out of it but because I got fed up of lugging it around. Now have maclaren buggy and it is sooo much easier. M&P freestylers do look v nice, but if I had my time again I'd buy a maclaraen which is suitable from birth and save some money.

Just to second Lennie's point really, I've got a 2002 Pliko completo which is just over 12 months old (DD is 10 months). Mine has suffered the same glitches as Lennie's - it no longer 'locks' folded, the handles wobble and the shopping basket is useless, weak and small. I took my Pliko into my nearest M&P stockist and it was sent away for a 'service' to fix the dodgy fold and for a general MOT. It was 10 days and £50 (we were just outside warranty) before I got my buggy back !

Whilst I can't deny that the Pliko is practical and cosy for a newborn, I do have doubts about its robustness and I think that it is expensive. Though I have heard great things about the Freestyler TS, our neighbour has one and loves it.

Miriamw, thanks for that very useful tip re buying on the net and reclinability. I knew there was a reason why we had originally (reluctantly) discounted the Techno - they've made it better for newborns this year, obviously. Will just have to go full price at John Lewis, I guess...

I agree with lennie, jessie and wsm, stay away from plikos! Had one for my dd (98' and it was useless. Very plasticky, didn't lock shut fairly quickly, shopping net trailed on the ground if filled up so it quickly wore through, wheels sqeaked horribly and had a mind of their own - ditched it as soon as she was old enough for a mclaren lightweight stroller and never used it for ds. complete waste of cash. put me off so much that I'd never buy anything from mamas and papas again - although I'm sure some of their stuff is probably fine.
had a few mclarens and they are always very well made and last through he most incredibly punishing treatment, for what its worth

I have to add my voice to the stay away from the Pilko club. It just fell apart after a couple of months and was impossible to fold.

In the end we literally got so fed up with it that we threw it in a dumpster and brought a new one that day.

Just an update that Maclaren sent me an email assuring me that the Quest has been passed as suitable from birth. Phew! I got mine at Tescos of all places, £59.99, £20 cheaper than Kiddicare!